China postpones 2020 football season

China has delayed the start of its domestic football season because of the escalation of the coronavirus, which has claimed at least 170 lives.

The super league, which features ex-premier league players including Yaya Toure, Marouane Fellaini, Oscar, Marko Arnautovic and Salomon Rondon, was due to run from February the 22nd to October the 31st.

A new starting date for the season has not yet been announced.

Oher sporting events in China have also been affected by the crisis.

The men’s alpine skiing world cup races in China, scheduled for 15th and 16th February in Yanqing, have been cancelled.

The 2020 world athletics indoor championships, due to be held from 13th-15th March in Nanjing, have been pushed back 12 months after world athletics sought advice from the world health organisation.

Formula 1 says it is monitoring the effects of the outbreak in China in the context of the country’s grand prix in Shanghai from 17th-19th April.